United States v. Denson

Police can now ‘see’ through the walls of your home, even without a warrant. A company called L-3 Communications has developed the RANGE-R, a radar device with stepped frequency continuous wave technology. The RANGE-R can “detect and measure the distance to moving and near stationary personnel through the walls constructed of common building materials.” This means that the handheld radar can be placed outside of a house and can report a three-dimensional display of what is happening inside the house. It can even detect a person who is simply breathing.

The radar was designed to be used in the battlefield, specifically in Iraq and Afghanistan. But, L-3 Communications has been marketing the radar to police departments and other emergency response organizations in the United States. Over the last two years, at least 50 police agencies have obtained access to this radar. However, the use of this machine was kept under the radar until this past December when the Tenth Circuit in United States v. Denson revealed its use to the public. Continue reading →